Why it leaves me, a Left-Liberal, at odds with me, a Progressive Muslim  Javed Anand https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/supreme-court-verdict-on-hijab-split-wide-open-8207010/

Justice Dhulia noted the main thrust of his judgment was that the entire concept of essential religious practice was not essential to the dispute. The high court took a wrong path. According to him, it is ultimately a matter of choice and Articles 14 and 19. “The foremost question in my mind was the education of the girl child. Are we making her life any better?” He also held the view that the judgment in the Bijoe Emmanuel case “squarely covers the issue”. This refers to the 1986 ruling of the apex court that upheld the fundamental right of three school-going children from the Jehovah’s Witness sect to stand respectfully but not join others in singing the national anthem during the school assembly as it conflicted with the tenets of their faith. ..

The Liberal Me has no doubt that Justice Dhulia’s views are in consonance with constitutional values. But the Progressive Muslim Me fears that were a larger bench to subsequently rule accordingly, it would effectively strengthen the regressive sections among Indian Muslims...As is public knowledge, cutting across sectarian divides — Sunni, Shia, Barelvi, Deobandi, Wahhabi, Salafi, Maududian — virtually the entire Muslim clergy in India is of the view that hijab (niqab, burqa) is mandatory in Islam. The abstract principle of a woman’s freedom to choose, I fear, will feed into the it-is-mandatory argument; act as convenient cover for Islam’s patriarchs to keep, even push, women behind the veil...

Two, do Muslim girls studying in Muslim-run schools, 3-year-olds included, have the right to choose or they simply must conform?

In the event that the March order of the Karnataka High Court is struck down by a larger bench of the Supreme Court in the coming period, we might ponder on what students committed to Hindutva politics will make of the right to choose verdict. Classrooms becoming the new arena for competitive communalism? Muslim girls in hijab, Hindu boys in saffron scarves? Diversity, anyone?

Hijab Judgment of Supreme Court | सर्वोच्च न्यायालय का हिजाब पर फ़ैसला | Faizan Mustafa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83qGIZE0z70
Oct 14, 2022 Some comments on Youtube: Matir Manush We thank Dr. Faizan Mustafa as usual for his dedication to explain the matter of law to us with commitment and devotion. Justice Gupta expressed his opinion on the practice of Hijab with sincere reasoning. But we believe he failed to realize a simple matter.
Wearing Hijab is not harming or hurting anybody. It is not even disrupting the uniformity in the education places. But banning hijab is surely damaging one's freedom of personal choice. Banning hijab is shattering one's dream of education.
..justice Dhulia's verdict protect the integrity of our constitution. His judgement promotes the right of education of the girls. In other words the judgement of justice Dhulia is helping our girls to acquire knowledge which is very important for the nation. Our girls are a vulnerable group of people in the country. The judicial system should not and must not increase their vulnerability.

Rohit gupta New doctrines are laid down like trust doctrine, cross obligations and tolerance, laying down new dimensions of constitutional interpretation.
The question is of acoustomed to other way of living and there are countries, who have no school dress

Yazdy Palia I disagree with the line of reasoning. In their enthusiasm, the petitioner, the respondent and the judges, have not realised, that, the only issue in this case is
1. Does an institution, in India, has the right to frame their own rules?
2. Do the students and their supporters, have the right to impose their will on the institution created by individuals to educate children? It appears that all the three are competing with each other to violate fundamental rights.

India needs Rs 13.52 lakh cr annual investment to create full employment: Study https://www.businesstoday.in/jobs/story/india-needs-rs-1352-lakh-cr-annual-investment-to-create-full-employment-study-349576-2022-10-11  

creating employment for 21.8 crore people needs investment of Rs 13.52 lakh crore per annum or 5 per of the GDP (gross domestic product). Increasing employment will result in greater production as well as demand, it suggested.

Shortage of resources for achieving full employment is an invalid argument since it can be self-financing, the report said, adding that this runs counter to the elite perception that full employment would be a negative sum game for them.

New technology being evolved in the advanced countries is appropriate for their needs but not necessarily good for a developing country like India, the report noted.

Higher technology is supposed to lead to higher profitability of a company. But it also lowers the employment potential. So, those who import technology and reduce employment need to pay a tax which could be used to finance employment, it suggested.

Executive Summary of Employment Report: 'Right to Work: Feasible and Indispensable for India to be a truly Civilized and Democratic Nation' https://1drv.ms/b/s!AiXYIRE1zsiagYVSHaDvaz5Tz0UfAA?e=1BmRrq

Read more …

Former Judges Release Report Criticising Govt, Media, Police Role In Delhi Riots  Fatima Khan 08 Oct 2022 https://www.thequint.com/amp/story/news/india/former-judges-release-report-criticising-government-media-police-role-in-delhi-riots 
The committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retired) Madan Lokur, has expressed grave concerns.
- Delhi police “failed to take any preventive or punitive measures to tackle the polarized atmosphere building up

- besides failing to prevent violence in many cases, the Delhi police also showed "complicity of varying degrees in the violence" in other instances. 

- the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)  must be held responsible for inadequate police response and deployment.  

- specific news channels  (Republic and Times Now (English), Aaj Tak, Zee News, India TV, Republic Bharat (Hindi). )  played “a key role in propagating hateful narratives

- BJP  focused its 2020 Delhi election campaign on the anti-CAA protests, “within a divisive narrative framing the anti-CAA protests as anti-national and violent.” 

- The Election Commission stopped short of ordering registration of FIRs against these political leaders for hate speech. With the Commission failing to initiate criminal prosecution, the malaise of hate speech infusing electoral campaigning is likely to spread further

The Logical Indian Crew 'Institutional Failure': Citizens Committee Report Blames Govt, Police & Media For Delhi Riots 2020  https://thelogicalindian.com/trending/citizens-committee-report-blames-government-police-and-media-for-delhi-riots-2020-37913 

 Report chronicles ‘failures’ by Delhi Police, state govt, MHA in dealing with Northeast Delhi riots https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/report-chronicles-failures-by-delhi-police-state-govt-mha-in-dealing-with-northeast-delhi-riots-8196683/ 
In addition to Justice Lokur, the ‘committee’ comprised former Chief Justice of the Madras and Delhi High Courts A P Shah; former judge of the Delhi High Court R S Sodhi; former judge of the Patna High Court Anjana Prakash; and former Home Secretary G K Pillai.

Delhi riots: Centre’s response to violence was wholly inadequate, says citizens’ committee https://scroll.in/latest/1034499/delhi-riots-centres-response-to-violence-was-wholly-inadequate-says-citizens-committee The Union home ministry failed to take effective steps to control communal violence although it controls the Delhi Police, the panel said. 

Full report: download from the leaflet: https://theleaflet.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/uncertain-justice-citizens-committee-report-on-north-east-delhi-violence-2020.pdf

'Why Has Truth Suddenly Dawned Upon RSS': Yogendra Yadav On RSS criticism Over Inequality | No Spin  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIWSeqapYV0
 Oct 4, 2022 Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav questioned why the RSS has suddenly woken up on India’s inequality, a day after an RSS leader’s criticism over the state of economy and jobs. Mr Yadav said the RSS has been compelled to speak up since all data being discussed on income inequality is in the public domain now.  Full programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0fMNCg9yVI

Poverty, unemployment are demons in today’s world: RSS https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/poverty-unemployment-are-demons-in-todays-world-rss/article65963438.ece
Ishita Mishra OCTOBER 02, 2022 even after India managed to grow to a great extent economically, economic inequality is a matter of concern. 

RSS-backed Swadeshi Jagran Manch to launch pan-India self-reliance campaign  https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-backed-swadesh-jagran-manch-to-launch-pan-india-self-reliance-campaign/story-0Xw5EaBsrF5eEMWNNToqrM.html
 May 19, 2020 02:34 PM IST
Ashwani Mahajan, the national co convenor of the SJM   self-reliance means ‘swadeshi’ only; and it can be achieved by rejuvenating indigenous industry, including small scale industries, small businesses, artisans, rural industries, including food processing industry, and other non-farm activities. A comprehensive plan is being drawn that will involve workers, farmers, small scale entrepreneurs, academicians, technocrats, industry and trade leaders to create awareness about the benefits of promoting swadeshi or local products 

 Analysis of the data so collected and segregated would help expose if Sec. 18 was used deliberately only for the purpose of implicating persons under UAPA to ensure that they did not get bail easily.

What is significant is that 152/238 cases (or 64%) cases involving Sec. 18 charge are in
respect of cases where there is no allegation of a terrorist act or an actual incident of terror
involving the use of weapons or causing physical injury is reported to have taken place. In other
words, in more than half (64%) of the UAPA cases involving Sec.18 charge, the mere allegation
of the police that a person is a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation or that a recovery
of weapon/explosives/money/drugs were made from him is sufficient to get the person arrested
and imprisoned for many years.

Those arrested under UAPA languish in jail sometimes even for decades, waiting for their
trial to begin. By the time they are acquitted, the damage is complete; an irreparable damage is
done to several aspects of their lives, inflicting pain and trauma on them and on all those
dependent on them...

By beginning to document the scale of abuse faced by thousands
under this law and by formulating a comprehensive database on all UAPA prosecutions across
the country, the dangers in the ambiguities of the UAPA law and its draconian provisions
become all the more striking. The objective is also to stimulate more discussions and encourage
more research on the constitutional, moral, ethical and human consequences of the UAPA and
the NIA, as we all come together and demand the repeal of the law.
We ask of the civil societies to be more vigilant, to come together and raise their voices
against the flagrant state abuse. We urge the political parties and leaders of the entire political
spectrum to aid in strengthening the demand to repeal the draconian UAPA and other such laws
which should not have a place in a constitutional democracy where rule of law is upheld

We
seek your support through the following actions:
1. Demand repeal of UAPA.
2. Demand repeal of all other anti-people laws.
3. Demand repeal of the NIA Act and disbanding of NIA.
4. Demand the immediate release of all political prisoners, on bail.
5. Take action against all police officials who have wilfully launched false and
fabricated cases against the marginalised communities, journalists, academicians,
students and others.
6. Take action to provide reparations for those wrongfully accused and released by
courts.

A legend of Uttarakhand Dr. Shamsher Singh Bisht is no more. https://www.newsviewsnetwork.com/a-legend-of-uttarakhand-dr-shamsher-singh-bisht-is-no-more-dies-at-73/ INDIAA legend of Uttarakhand Dr. Shamsher Singh Bisht is no more.
The land of abode of Gods Uttarakhand has today lost a relentless fighter, journalist, author, an ideologue, a social reformer, a committed activist, prominent Uttrakhand separate state activist n leader and the former student and youth leader with progressive ideals and principles.

He was an active participant and a youth pioneer in various movements such as Chipko, Nasha Nahi Rojgaar Do, movements for environmental protection and for the conservation of forests, water and land in Uttarakhand. Dr. Shamsher Singh Bisht regularly wrote on the soci economic, cultural, environmental and societal issues of Uttarakhand in the leading state dailies n other vernacular periodicals like Jan Satta, Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran, Nav Bharat Times, etc.

शमशेर सिंह बिष्ट  https://www.nainitalsamachar.org/shamsher-singh-bisht/  

शमशेर सिंह बिष्ट के जन्मदिन पर विशेष : सुनो उस  राजा की कहानी | पास ना जिसके  घोड़ा  पालकी ना थी राजधानी 

Corporatising Agriculture and Foreign Investors -Farmer-owned Sahyadri Farms has raised Rs 310 crore from a group of European investors By Jayashree Bhosale Sep 14, 2022,  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/farmer-owned-sahyadri-farms-has-raised-rs-310-crore-from-a-group-of-european-investors/articleshow/94202814.cms  Foreign investment story of Sahyadri FPO is now become the discussion points amongst all of us mainly in the development and FPO sector.

Read more …

Bharat Jodo Yatra has opened room for new imagination of India — ‘South-up’  Yogendra Yadav 14 September, 2022 https://theprint.in/opinion/bharat-jodo-yatra-has-opened-room-for-new-imagination-of-india-south-up/1127886/ If we have to resist majoritarianism, we must turn to the three ideological pillars of Dravidian politics: Regionalism, rationalism, and social justice in new ways.

Professor G. N. Devy has a name for this imagination: Dakshinayan. It is the name of the movement he started with many other writers in 2016. We were lucky that he had also come for the inauguration of the yatra and was there with us at the breakfast table that morning. Over idli sambhar and a good cup of my favourite South Indian filter coffee, he explained to us the concept and the story of Dakshinayan. You must hear from him the story of how his wife Surekha and he shifted their home from Vadodara in Gujarat to Dharwad in Karnataka to be with the wife of Professor M. M. Kalburgi after he was assassinated by Right-wing forces. Professor Devy was attracted to the dual significance of Dakshinayan: Its southern orientation as opposed to the north orientation of ‘uttarayan’, and also as a political metaphor for the times when days are short and nights long.  ( see also Ganesh Devy Dakshinayan Samas 2018 Sevagram  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B68TesJA7dM

Extract from Corrine Kumar:   The south as the new political imaginery

To all those who listen to the Song of the Wind:

In a different place, in a different time, Black Elk heard the Song of the Wind

I saw myself on the central mountain of the world, the highest place, and I had a vision because I was seeing in the sacred manner of the world, she said

Remember she said, she was seeing in the sacred manner of the world

And the sacred, central mountain was a mountain in her part of the world

“But,” Black Elk continued to say: “the central mountain is everywhere”

From my central mountain, the point where stillness and movement are together, I invite you to listen to the wind;

more specially to the wind from the South: the South as third world, as the civilizations of Asia, the Pacific, the Arab world, Africa, Latin America; the South as the voices and movements of peoples, wherever these movements exist; the South as the visions and wisdoms of women: the South as the discovering of new paradigms, which challenge the existing theoretical concepts and categories breaking the mind constructs, seeking a new language to describe what it perceives, refusing the one, objective, rational, scientific world view as the only world view: the South as the discovery of other cosmologies, as the discovery of other knowledges that have been hidden, submerged, silenced. The South as an “insurrection of these subjugated knowledges”

The South as history; the South as mystery

The South as the finding of new political paradigms, inventing new political patterns, creating alternative political imaginations: the South as the revelation of each civilization in its own idiom: the South as conversations between civilizations:

The South then as new universalisms

And in our searching for new understandings of the South, it promises to bring to the world new meanings, new moorings.

It invites us to create a new imaginary to birth a new cosmology;

The South then as new political imaginary

Yogendra Yadav

We should be careful when we make memes and comments. They may tend to distance the person rather than convince them.

https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/facts-dont-change-minds/ Cognitive biases and brain biology help explain why facts don’t change minds September 4, 2022
For many people, a challenge to their worldview feels like an attack on their personal identity.

Read more …